I love cooking with fresh, local produce and ingredients. And for whatever reason, we don’t go out to eat as much with the kids. Probably because it’s easier to deal with meal time with the munchkins at home. And now that I blog about food and recipes and cook a lot, I am always on the lookout for new food products.
Especially if they are going to save me some time during the week and taste good.
Because everyone can always use some help in the kitchen, right? Insert Kraft Recipe Makers from Safeway!
Now, I must say I was a little skeptical. I mean I’m all for quick and easy on a weeknight because it’s hard getting dinner on the table 7 nights (or 5, whatever you do) a week, so I was intrigued but wondering if it would taste any good. I love that Kraft now has Kraft Recipe Makers, which are combinations of two savory sauces that – along with your fresh ingredients- make one fabulous dish.
Recipe Makers are easy. You just add your protein and fresh ingredients for a flavorful, homemade dish any night of the week. You can find Recipe Makers in seven delicious varieties at Safeway, like Sweet n Sour Chicken, New England Pot Roast, Verde Chicken Enchilada, and Three Cheese Chicken Florentine. Each Recipe Maker can make dishes one of three ways. You can choose from a variety of prep methods, including in a slow cooker, skillet or oven.
I found Kraft Recipe Makers at my local Safeway within the “Meal Starters” Section. This section was in the aisle/section across from the meat department. The product was shelved among other meal starter solutions. I immediately grabbed the Kraft Recipe Makers Chicken Bruschetta Pasta. Chicken and pasta? Everyone in my family was sure to eat it. And I will never turn down pasta.
I also grabbed a few more to try for later.
Once I got home from Safeway, off I went into the kitchen to get started. Making this dinner was so easy and quick, I was thinking – wow- these are perfect for nights when you need to get dinner on the table fast- which is probably Monday- Thursday for most families out there and there was a good variety of different recipe starters.
So, the big question. How did it taste?
I thought my Chicken Bruschetta Pasta was actually pretty good! The chicken was flavorful and tender (I used thigh meat) and the bruschetta sauce with the pasta was great! We ate this for dinner and there was a little left over so I had it again for lunch the next day. The Kraft Recipe Makers Chicken Bruschetta Pasta came with a Basil Garlic simmer sauce and a Chunky Bruschetta finishing sauce. It was kinda cool to pull out a bottle of sauce and a packet of sauce, as opposed to powdered stuff that you add in.
While you are boiling your pasta, you cook and stir chicken in half of the Simmer Sauce in large skillet until thoroughly cooked.
Next, you drain the pasta. Add the cooked pasta to skillet with remaining Simmer Sauce and mix lightly. Now, I went heavy on the pasta. . I always do. . because I love having leftovers in my fridge for me to munch on the following day.
Top with the Finishing Sauce, cover with a lid and cook on low heat for about 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through.
Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and diced fresh parsley and voila! Dinner is served!
Now, if you read my blog, you know that we are moving to Madison, WI for my husband’s new job. We are selling the house so need to keep the house clean at all times in case anyone comes over to see the house so I will have to keep as little clutter and mess as possible in my kitchen. . which, for me, is near impossible, especially when I am cooking. I always seem to have 8-10 or more ingredients out on the counter, pots and pans on the stove etc.
With these Kraft Recipe Starters, I only need a few fresh ingredients and I can get a meal cooked up fast and my kitchen cleaned up even faster so these came to me in just the nick of time! If you’re looking for a quicker lunch or dinner option, you need to give these a try!
Kraft Recipe Makers Chicken Bruschetta Pasta
Ingredients
- 3 cups rigatoni pasta
- 1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into thin strips
- 1 pkg. 16.4 oz. KRAFT RECIPE MAKERS Chicken Bruschetta Pasta
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley diced or roughly chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, using a large wok or non-stick pan or skillet, cook and stir the chicken in half of the Simmer Sauce until the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Drain the pasta and add to the skillet with the remaining Simmer Sauce; mix lightly.
- Top with the Finishing Sauce and cover. Cook on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and add some fresh parsley on top. Enjoy!
Recipe from Kraft Recipe Makers and on the box.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
